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LS approves Presidential proclamation on Bihar

      New Delhi: It's been two weeks for now that the decision to impose President's rule in Bihar was announced but it is only today that the Lok Sabha formally approved the Presidential proclamation clamping Central rule in the state. The consensual decision for the statutory resolution on the proclamation was passed by a voice vote although the members of the Rashtriya Janta Dal opposed the movet by the House. The RJD, headed by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, is a part of the UPA government. The President's rule was imposed following the assembly elections in the state, in which none of the parties or the coalitions, either the one led by the RJD or the one led by the BJP, succeeded in achieving a majority in the state assembly. The resolution for approval of the Presidential proclamation was moved under Article 356 of the constitution keeping in view the state Governor's report that "no political party or group could establish a majority".

Sikh bodies hail denial of visa to Narendra Modi (Go To Top)
by Ravinder Singh Robin

    Amritsar: Various Sikh organizations have hailed the decision of denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by the US Consulate in India, terming it as "a principled and courageous action". D. Pritpal Singh, the convener of the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said on Saturday that Sikhs in America were against Modi getting the visa because of his alleged venomous speeches against the minorities. "We in US had been demanding for not granting visa to Modi as his presence could have created tension among minorities in the US. We appreciated the step taken by the Consulate in India. The step taken by the US consulate indicates that the United States retains a deep commitment to human rights and the rights of the minorities. across the world," Pritpal Singh said. The president of the All India Sikh Students Association, Manjit Singh Bhoma ,said that that other countries should also follow the path of the US. Bhoma also criticized the Indian Government for backing Modi on the issue. He alleged that both the Congress and the BJP were hand in glove in their machinations against the minorities.

NHRC says no susbstance in US charge against Narendra Modi (Go To Top)
by N Bhadran Nair

     New Delhi: There seems to be no substance in US Administration's statement that they acted on the basis of the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission, while denying a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli had said the US government "responding to a finding by the Indian National Human Rights Commission," took the decision to deny visa to Modi. Highly placed sources in the Commission, who had made detailed investigation into the Gujarat riots after the Godhra train carnage of February 2002, however, said, "No individual had been personally held responsible for the riots by the Commission." Even a substantive recommendation of NHRC of May 31, 2002 does not contain any specific indictment of any particular functionary of the State Government, leave alone Narendra Modi.

      Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh too took exception to the US decision saying that it was not "appropriate" for America to use allegations to make a "subjective judgement" to question the constitutional authority in India. "We respect the sovereign right to grant or refuse visa to any person. We do not believe that it is appropriate to use allegations or anything less than due legal process to make a subjective judgement to question a constituional authority in India," Dr. Singh told Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament when the issue was raised by Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh.

     Modi was to begin a five-day visit to the US from March 20 and was scheduled to attend a NRI hoteliers meet there. He has also been denied a diplomatic visa.

Support to Modi on visa denial (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Cutting across their political differences, various right-wing political parties have strongly come out in support of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a day after the United States cancelled his visa and denied him entry into the country. It would be apt to say that Modi hasn't had or seen this kind of support from his party, the BJP, or any other party for a very long time. While a galvanised BJP is meeting today to decide its strategy on how to gain political mileage from the revocation of Modi's business and tourist visa, its Gujarat unit has announced plans to hold statewide demonstrations to condemn the US decision. Party president L.K.Advani will arrive in the Gujarat capital, Gandhinagar, tomorrow to take part in a "Swabhiman" rally along with other leaders.

      The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has condemned the decision of the US government saying that it had no moral right to talk of religious intolerance. The Shiv Sena has also decided to up the ante. Its Delhi unit will be marching to the American Embassy in the Capital today to protest the move. The Sena is seeking an apology from White House and demanding that it's decision be overturned.

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